October 9 DVD roundup

Some biggies this week: “Prometheus” and “Rock of Ages” are on the mainstream list; “E.T.” and “Little Shop of Horrors” makes their BD debut, and the Hitchcock classic “Dial M for Murder” makes its remastered 3DBD debut.

Usual rules apply: synopses are taken from the press releases and Amazon descriptions; snarky commentary is extra; and preview links go to YouTube’s preview pages. And just in case you were wondering, the DVD prices are the listed retail prices. You can get them cheaper if you buy at discount stores or online. 12 Dogs of Christmas: Great Puppy Rescue
Sony, 102 minutes, PG, $22.99
Emma O’Conner (Danielle Chuchran) returns to Doverville to help her friends save the local puppy orphanage from an unscrupulous tycoon (Sean Patrick Flannery). Also stars D.B. Sweeney and Alli Simpson. Extras: featurettes.

30 Beats
Lionsgate, 88 minutes, R, $27.98
Ten New Yorkers find their lives interconnecting through a series of life-changing sexual encounters during a three-day heat wave. Stars Paz de la Huerta, Justin Kirk, Lee Pace, Thomas Sadoski, Jennifer Tilly, Ingeborga Dapkunaite, Jason Day and Vahina Giocante. One would think that a heat wave would leave them too exhausted for sex, but New Yorkers are a hardy breed, I suppose. No extras listed.

Barbie Fairytopia: Mermaidia
Universal, 75 minutes, not rated, $9.99
More CGI adventures of Barbie: nIn this follow-up to Fairytopia, Elina (played by Barbie) travels to Mermaidia to save her friend Nalu, the merman Prince. Prince Nalu has been kidnapped in an attempt to learn the whereabouts of a special berry that will make Laverna the most powerful fairy in Fairytopia – even more powerful than the Enchantress! It’s up to Elina to stop them, but she can’t do it alone. She’ll need the help of Nori, a headstrong mermaid who doesn’t trust outsiders and wants nothing to do with Elina. Winning Nori over isn’t easy, but Elina will have more challenges yet to come. Saving Nalu could require the greatest sacrifice of her life: her wings. Can she do it, or will Fairytopia fall into the hands of Laverna forever? No extras listed.

The Barrens
Anchor Bay, 97 minutes, R
DVD: $26.98
BD/DVD: $29.99
The Jersey Devil, a winged beast spawned 400 years ago by Satan himself, is said to still inhabit the dense pine forests of southern New Jersey, where Richard Vineyard (Stephen Moyer’) is taking his family on a camping trip. As the family goes further into the woods looking for a perfect campsite, Richard seems to be going mad. Also stars Mia Kirshner, Erik Knudsen and Allie MacDonald. Robert Kolarik reviewed this one. Extras: commentary, deleted scenes.

Bedevilled
Well Go USA, 115 minutes, not rated
DVD: $24.98
BD: $29.98
Hae-won (Seong-won Ji) is a woman on the edge: a series of incidents at work earn her a forced vacation, but when she travels to a remote island from a childhood visit, at the urgent request of her friend Kim Bok-nam (Yeong-hie Seo), she has no idea what devils of the past are waiting. Moo-do Island is an unpleasant place to visit, and you definitely don t want to live there. Bok-nam is crumbling under a weight of violence, sexual menace, and fear with no means of escaping her tormentors. The vengeful rage that waits inside her is growing, and her sanity shredding. If Hae-won can t help her escape, she may have to take matters into her own hands, once and for all. Extras: behind-the-scenes featurette.

Bones: The Complete Seventh Season
Fox, 567 minutes, not rated, 13 episodes, 4 discs
DVD: $49.98
BD: $69.99
While she tackles some of her most gruesome homicide cases yet, Dr. Temperance Brennan (Emily Deschanel) also faces the delicate demands of motherhood, and a deepening relationship with FBI Special Agent Seeley Booth (David Boreanaz). The thrills escalate this season when a pastor’s wife goes missing, shipping clerks go postal, and the squints go Hollywood. But the biggest shocker of all comes when clues left by a deranged cyber genius tag Brennan as a murder suspect. Extras: deleted scenes, episode commentary, featurettes, gag reel.

A Cat in Paris
New Video Group, 70 minutes, PG
DVD: $29.95
BD/DVD: $34.95
Dino is a cat that leads a double life. By day he lives with Zoe, a little girl whose mother is a detective in the Paris police force. But at night Dino sneaks out to work with Nico, a slinky cat burglar with a big heart. English dub of French animated film features the voices of Marcia Gay Harden, Anjelica Huston and Matthew Modine. Also features the original French audio track with English subtitles. Nominated for Best Animated Film. Extras: animated short, featurette.

The Cottage
Entertainment One, 88 minutes, not rated, $19.98
A financially-struggling couple (Victor Brown, Kristen Dalton) with a new daughter rent out their guest cottage to a romance novelist (David Arquette) after a prospective tenant has an accident and can’t take the place. Of course, the novelist isn’t who he says he is. Also stars Ken Baumann, Morissa and Alana O’Mara, Lorraine Nicholson and Bellamy Young. No extras listed.

The Courier
Well Go USA, 99 minutes, R
DVD: $24.98
BD: $29.98
Jeffrey Dean Morgan is the best courier out there, but he gets an impossible task: deliver a briefcase to an impossible-to-find killer. Succeed and get a million dollars; fail, and his family is killed. And no one can be trusted. Robert Kolarik reviewed this one for us; he didn’t like it. Extras: behind-the-scenes featurette, deleted scenes.

Dead Ringer
Warner Bros., 116 minutes, not rated,
BD: $19.98
“Macabre” follow-up to “Whatever Happened to Baby Jane” has Bette Davis taking a dual role as a as a wealthy (and nasty) widow, and also as her slatternly (but good) twin sister, long estranged. Also stars Peter Lawford and Karl Malden. No extras listed.

Denzel Washington Film Collection
Fox, 8 films, $49.98
Eight of Denzel Washington’s films made for Fox/MGM: The Mighty Quinn; Much Ado About Nothing; Courage Under Fire; The Siege; Antwone Fisher; Out of Time; Man on Fire; Unstoppable. No extras listed.

Dial M for Murder
Warner Bros., 105 minutes, not rated, 3DBD debut: $35.99
American writer Mark Halliday (Robert Cummings) begins an affair with Margot Wendice (Grace Kelly) in London, leading her husband Tony (Ray Milland) to plot her death in order to stave off divorce and disinheritance. He blackmails a former school chum into killing her, but she kills him instead in self defense. Tony then implicates her in pre-meditated murder. Now it’s up to Mark to prove Margot’s innocence and save her life. Restoration of the Alfred Hitchcock classic brings it up to date with modern 3DBD technology. Extras: featurettes.

Doctor Who: The Ambassadors of Death
BBC/Warner Bros., 170 minutes, not rated, 2 discs, $34.98
The Mars Probe 7 spacecraft is overdue, and Space Control is worried about the fate of the crew. A rescue mission recovered something, but it wasn’t human. Now the Third Doctor (Jon Pertwee) must head into space .. without the TARDIS. Extras: commentary, featurettes.

E.T.: The Extra-Terrestrial: Anniversary Edition
Universal, 115 minutes, PG,
DVD price with digital copy: $19.98
BD/DVD with digital copy: $34.98
A description of this film is hardly needed, but here goes: A crew of interplanetary botanists are forced to leave one of their crew behind while escaping humans. The short, squat alien makes a friend of 10-year-old Elliot (Henry Thomas), who nicknames him E.T. (for Extra-Terrestrial). Also stars Drew Barrrymore (at age 6), Robert MacNaughton, Peter Coyote and Dee Wallace. Directed by Steven Spielberg. The BD appears to have all of the extras that the 25th Anniversary DVD did, plus a few new ones. Extras: featurettes, Ultraviolet digital copy. BD adds: BD-Live capacity, featurettes.

Four More Years
TLA Releasing, 90 minutes, not rated,
DVD: $17.99
David Holst (Björn Kjellman) has been the favorite to become the next Prime Minister of Sweden. However, after a shocking turnaround at the polls, he is left on the sidelines, where he meets Martin (Eric Ericson): charming, bright, fun-loving.. and the state secretary to the new Prime Minister! As David navigates a newly found sexuality and a political divide: should he give up his marriage and career for a social democrat who’s had more one night stands than David’s had votes? In Swedish with English subtitles. No extras listed.

The Giant Mechanical Man
New Video Group, 90 minutes, PG-13,
DVD: $26.95
Janice (Jenna Fischer) is a woman in her 30’s who has yet to learn how to be an adult, and Tim (Chris Messina), a street performer with trouble paying the bills. They meet while working at the zoo and realize that they are perfectly complimentary. Also stars Malin Akerman as her overbearing sister and roommate and Topher Grace as an egotistical self-help guru whom Janice is encouraged to date. Also stars Bob Odenkirk, Lucy Punch and Rich Sommer. Extras: interviews.

Happiness Is Peanuts: Go Snoopy Go
Warner Bros., 46 minutes, not rated, 6 episodes
DVD: $14.97
Includes the TV special “It’s Spring Training, Charlie Brown.” Baseball season’s first game is coming up, but Charlie Brown’s team doesn’t even have uniforms. Can their new player, little Leland, help them reach a big victory? Includes five episodes from “The Charlie Brown & Snoopy Show:” Snoopy swoops in on the gang when he thinks he’s a winged predator in Vulture, Linus tries to break a habit in Blanket, school means trouble for Peppermint Patty, the back of a bicycle is the road to excitement in Rerun and Charlie Brown tries to rouse spirits in Rainy Day. No extras listed.

Holliston: The Complete First Season
Image Entertainment, 223 minutes, not rated, 6 episodes
DVD: $24.98
BD: $29.98
Send-up of American sitcoms features Adam (Adam Green) and Joe (Joe Lynch) are two down-on-their-luck aspiring horror movie filmmakers trying to break out of their small hometown of Holliston, Massachusetts, and into the Hollywood big leagues while struggling to make ends meet and learning to deal with the opposite sex. Also stars Laura Ortiz as Joe’s adorably demented girlfriend Laura, Corri English as Adam’s ex-girlfriend, Dee Snider ( of the glam-rock band Twisted Sister) as Lance Rockett and Dave Brockie (of GWAR) as Adam’s imaginary alien friend “Oderus Urungus,” Extras: deleted scenes, episode commentary, outtakes.

It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia: Season 7
Fox, 286 minutes, not rated
DVD: $39.98
BD: $49.99
Season 7 has the Paddys Pub gang getting ready for the Apocalypse, going to the Jersey Shore beach, producing a child beauty pageant and attending their high school reunion. Extras: bloopers, episode commentary.

Little Shop of Horrors: The Director’s Cut
Warner Bros., 94 minutes, PG-13, BD book debut: $34.99
A bad Roger Corman movie provided the inspiration for an “off-off-Broadway” musical that became an unlikely hit film. Rick Moranis stars as Seymour, who works at a flower shop on Skid Row. the store is on the verge of closing when he finds a strange plant, which he names Audrey II after the ditzy blonde co-worker (Ellen Greene) he has a crush on. Their boss, Mr. Mushnik (Vincent Gardenia) is skeptical that the plant will do anything, but business begins to pick up. The plant proves to be a bit creepy, when Seymour discovers that its preferred plant food is human blood. Also stars Steve Martin, Bill Murray, John Candy and Levi Stubbs. Includes the 20-minute original ending that failed with test audiences, restored for this edition. My review is here. Extras: commentary, deleted scenes, documentary, introduction, outtakes.

Monster High: Ghouls Rule
Universal, 72 minutes, not rated, $19.98
For years, students at Monster High were warned that Halloween was a night to stay inside and avoid conflict at all costs. But Frankie and her friends discover that ghouls and “Normies” once loved to spend the holiday together! The ghouls decide to turn back the clock and use the night to celebrate their individuality and show that it’s okay to “Be Yourself. Be Unique. Be a Monster!” CGI cartoon for young girls appears to use the “Bratz” dolls for inspiration, but with a monster-inspired twist. Extras: animated short.

Prometheus
Fox, 124 minutes, R
DVD: $29.99
BD/DVD with digital copy: $39.99
3DBD/BD/DVD with digital copy: $49.99
Prequel (of sorts) to the original “Alien” finds a team of scientists traveling to a distant planet onboard the scientific vessel Prometheus in search of the progenitors of man, whom they have dubbed “the Engineers.” What they find there is wondrous to behold, and even more dangerous than they had ever imagined. Stars Noomi Rapce, Michael Fassbender, Charlize Theron, Guy Pearce and Logan-Marshall Green. Directed by Ridley Scott. Includes alternate opening/ending. Saw this one in the theater; looking forward to studying it on BD. No extras listed. BD adds: featurettes, photo gallery, storyboards. 3DBD adds: featurettes.

The Raven
Fox, 110 minutes, R
DVD: $29.98
BD: $39.99
In 1849 Baltimore, police detective Emmett Fields (Luke Evans) discovers that the serial killer he’s tracking is using the twisted writings of Edgar Allan Poe (John Cusack) as inspiration for his murders. Fields originally suspects Poe, then enlists his help to stop future attacks. But the killer continues the game and the two race to catch him before he finishes Poe’s catalog. Sounds like an English major’s movie with good intentions but bad reviews. Extras: commentary BD adds: alternate scenes, deleted scenes, featurettes.

Robert Mitchum Film Collection
Fox, 10 films, 10 discs, $49.98
Ten films from actor/director Robert Mitchum: River of No Return; The Night of the Hunter; Heaven Knows, Mr. Allison; The Enemy Below; Thunder Road; The Hunters; The Longest Day; Man in the Middle; What a Way to Go!; The Way West. No extras listed.

Rock of Ages
Warner Bros., 123 minutes, PG-13
DVD price with digital copy: $28.98
BD with digital copy: $29.98
BD/DVD with digital copy: $35.99
Another Broadway play comes to film, with “Rock of Ages” telling the story of small town girl Sherrie (Julianne Hough) and city boy Drew (Diego Boneta), who meet on the Sunset Strip while pursuing their dreams. Tom Cruise plays the bad boy rocker Stacee Jaxx, Alec Baldwin plays Bourbon nightclub owner Dennis Dupree and Russel Brand his assistant. Also stars Mary J. Blige and Catherine Zeta-Jones. Features the 80s music of Def Leppard, Joan Jett, Journey, Foreigner, Bon Jovi, Night Ranger, REO Speedwagon, Pat Benatar, Twisted Sister, Poison, Whitesnake, and more. BD adds 13 minutes for an “Extended Cut.” Unlike “Little Shop of Horrors,” this was an “on-Broadway” play that made it to the big screen and flopped, scoring only 41% on the Tomatometer despite a big marketing push. Extras: featurettes, music video
BD adds: alternate scenes, featurettes.

Scooby-Doo: Big Top Scooby-Doo
Warner Bros., 80 minutes, not rated
DVD: $19.98
BD/DVD with digital copy: $24.98
Scooby-Doo, Shaggy and the gang visit a circus that’s being hounded by a thieving werewolf, so they go undercover as circus performers to solve the mystery.

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Shut Up And Play The Hits
Oscilloscope Laboratories, 290 minutes, not rated
DVD: $34.99
BD: $39.99
Documentary/concert film about the final show of the electronic band LCD Soundsystem, whose frontman James Murphy decided to disband at the peak of its popularity, ensuring that the band would go out on top. The 3-1/2 hour concert, shot live at Madison Square Garden in New York on April 2, 2011, also featured appearances by Arcade Fire and Reggie Watts. The documentary part of the disc features Murphy in the 48 hours leading up to the show, discussing music, art, aging and calling it quits with author Chuck Klosterman. Features extended interviews. Extras: outtakes.

Something Big
Paramount, 108 minutes, PG-13, $19.99
Joe Baker (Dean Martin) wants to do ‘something big.’ When he needs a Gatling gun to accomplish this, he seeks out a black marketeer. The price he wants for the gun? A woman! So Baker kidnaps a woman off of the stagecoach, only to find that she is the wife of the commandant of the local Cavalry detachment. Things get further complicated when a girl named Dover McBride shows up. She has come to force Baker to marry her and return east, as he promised to do four years earlier. Also stars Brian Keith. No extras listed.

Strangers on a Train
Warner Bros., 101 minutes, not rated, BD debut: $19.98
Guy (Farley Granger) hates his unfaithful wife, and convinces fellow train passenger Bruno (Robert Walker) who hates his father, that they “switch” murders. Isn’t this the movie that Danny DeVito’s character went to see in “Throw Momma From The Train”? Extras: commentary, featurettes.

Werewolf: The Beast Among Us
Universal, 93 minutes, not rated
DVD: $29.98
BD: $34.98
A mysterious creature terrorizes a 19th century village by moonlight. A local young man, Daniel, (Guy Wilson) convinces a team of skilled werewolf hunters to let him join their quest to hunt it down. But as the villagers are attacked one by one and turned into vicious beasts, Daniel begins to fear that his ruthless foe is someone closer than anyone thinks. Also stars Stephen Rea, Ed Quinn, Stephen Bauer, Adam Croasdell and Nia Peeples. Includes unrated version. Extras: commentary, deleted scenes, featurettes
BD adds: BD-Live capacity, digital copy, Ultraviolet digital copy.